Textile designer Jane Deane has a ready supply of silk to create her work – she raises her own colony of moths in the bath at her Devon home!
Jane from Tavistock uses the tub to house a number of different varieties of moth including the Bombyx Mori, which is recognised as producing the best quality silk - but she also has a variety of wild silkmoths that she uses in her creative work.
All the moths are allowed to complete their short life cycle and it is the discarded cocoons, from where the silkworm caterpillars emerge as moths that Jane uses to make a variety of textile products.
Jane’s passion for silk moths began when she had the opportunity to attend a 10 day course with the leading artist weaver Sue Hiley-Harris.
“Moths are quite extraordinary creatures and I became fascinated with the way they begin life in an egg the size of a pinhead, emerge as a caterpillar and then spin a cocoon in which to metamorphasise into a moth, “ said Jane, a resident artist at Duchy Square Centre for Creativity in Princetown.
“It is such a short life as they immediately mate and lay eggs for the next generation before dying. It is a quite magical process though and even after all these years of keeping silkworms I still find witnessing their life cycle as awe inspiring as when I first saw it.”
By spinning the silk instead of reeling it, Jane can ensure her moths are able to live out their natural lifespan. Reeling the silk would involve using the cocoon before the moth had emerged as it requires the single thread from the cocoon to be unwound intact.
To spin the silk, Jane removes the protective gum the caterpillar excretes to harden it by boiling it in soap flakes with a little washing soda. She then stretches the softened cocoon over a plastic pudding basin and allows it to dry before dyeing it and then spinning a thread.
Alongside her own products, which she creates using natural and synthetic dyes, Janes offers talks on the silk moth processes and workshops in spinning, weaving and dyeing. All these are her main disciplines, she also does paper-making, batik, embroidery, knitting and braiding.
She was recently invited to join the Society of Dyers and Colourists and is also a member of Frayed Edges Weaving Group, formed in 2004 for the graduates of Bradford College of Art and Design, which exhibits nationally.
Opened in March and supported by a number of organisations, including The Duchy of Cornwall and Devon County Council, the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity offers low cost workshop space on two floors and is helping boost the local economy by connecting local businesses with other key industry sectors.
The artists and creative practitioners take part in workshops organised by the centre, but also stage their own sessions with smaller groups in their own studios. Anyone wishing to find out more about all the workshops on offer should telephone the centre on (01822) 890828 or visit the website www.duchysquare.org where contact details for all the artists can be found.
Showing posts with label workshops. Show all posts
Showing posts with label workshops. Show all posts
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
Friday, 6 November 2009
‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE ARTY WITH MOOR GIFTS TO CHOOSE FROM
Christmas is coming early to the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity where visitors can enjoy a whole variety of events in the run-up to the festive season, beginning on Saturday 14 November.
The central theme of this year’s festive calendar will be the Moor Presents exhibition, where visitors to the Princetown centre will get the opportunity to buy unique gifts with an artistic and creative flavour.
It is a rare opportunity to purchase one off gifts created by the resident artists and creative practitioners at Duchy Square, as well as other talented makers living and working in the Dartmoor area.
There is something for everyone with a whole range of gifts on display, including, furniture and floristry, jewellery, paintings, weavings, textiles and quilts, with many at affordable prices.
Philippa Smith, Gallery Manager at Duchy Square, said: “The emphasis is on quality presents available at a range of prices, which means there will be something for the casual buyer, the serious collector and anyone with an interest in contemporary art.
“Visitors will be able to find everything from small stocking fillers to larger items created by some of the most talented artists working in the Dartmoor area.”
Alongside the Moor Presents, the upstairs gallery at Duchy Square will be hosting an exhibition to showcase the talents of members of the Tavistock Embroiderers Guild, which will be on display from 11th to 21st November.
There is also the chance to book places on a variety of workshop sessions to be held by resident artists and other creative practitioners based on Dartmoor. Sessions include a rag rug course, textiles, weaving and dyeing, silver clay jewellery making. Bauble making and a Christmas wreath making sessions will also be available to give the workshops programme a proper festive feel.
There is a late night shopping evening on 26 November and December 3rd will mark a high point in the festive events as Duchy Square hosts a carols and mince pies evening to thank the local community for its support. There will be a festive singsong around the Christmas tree and children from Princetown Primary School will also be performing.
Visitors will be able to Christmas shop at the centre right up to Wednesday 23rd December.
For full details of the Christmas events calendar and to book places on the workshops, contact Duchy Square on (01822) 890828 or visit the website http://www.duchysquare.org/ where contact details for all the artists can also be found.
Opened in March and supported by a number of organisations, including The Duchy of Cornwall and Devon County Council, the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity offers low cost workshop space on two floors and is helping boost the local economy by connecting local businesses with other key industry sectors.
The artists and creative practitioners take part in workshops organised by the centre, but also stage their own sessions with smaller groups in their own studios.
WEBSITES:
http://www.duchysquare.org/
http://www.integria.net/
The central theme of this year’s festive calendar will be the Moor Presents exhibition, where visitors to the Princetown centre will get the opportunity to buy unique gifts with an artistic and creative flavour.
It is a rare opportunity to purchase one off gifts created by the resident artists and creative practitioners at Duchy Square, as well as other talented makers living and working in the Dartmoor area.
There is something for everyone with a whole range of gifts on display, including, furniture and floristry, jewellery, paintings, weavings, textiles and quilts, with many at affordable prices.
Philippa Smith, Gallery Manager at Duchy Square, said: “The emphasis is on quality presents available at a range of prices, which means there will be something for the casual buyer, the serious collector and anyone with an interest in contemporary art.
“Visitors will be able to find everything from small stocking fillers to larger items created by some of the most talented artists working in the Dartmoor area.”
Alongside the Moor Presents, the upstairs gallery at Duchy Square will be hosting an exhibition to showcase the talents of members of the Tavistock Embroiderers Guild, which will be on display from 11th to 21st November.
There is also the chance to book places on a variety of workshop sessions to be held by resident artists and other creative practitioners based on Dartmoor. Sessions include a rag rug course, textiles, weaving and dyeing, silver clay jewellery making. Bauble making and a Christmas wreath making sessions will also be available to give the workshops programme a proper festive feel.
There is a late night shopping evening on 26 November and December 3rd will mark a high point in the festive events as Duchy Square hosts a carols and mince pies evening to thank the local community for its support. There will be a festive singsong around the Christmas tree and children from Princetown Primary School will also be performing.
Visitors will be able to Christmas shop at the centre right up to Wednesday 23rd December.
For full details of the Christmas events calendar and to book places on the workshops, contact Duchy Square on (01822) 890828 or visit the website http://www.duchysquare.org/ where contact details for all the artists can also be found.
Opened in March and supported by a number of organisations, including The Duchy of Cornwall and Devon County Council, the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity offers low cost workshop space on two floors and is helping boost the local economy by connecting local businesses with other key industry sectors.
The artists and creative practitioners take part in workshops organised by the centre, but also stage their own sessions with smaller groups in their own studios.
WEBSITES:
http://www.duchysquare.org/
http://www.integria.net/
Thursday, 17 September 2009
Studio Sessions in September / October
COME ALONG TO THE DUCHY SQUARE CENTRE FOR CREATIVITY AND MAKE YOUR OWN PIECE OF FINE SILVER JEWELLERY TO TAKE AWAY ON THE DAY!
PLT Designs,
Duchy Centre for Creativity
Princetown
07765512061
TASTER SESSIONS - £35
Taster sessions introduce you to Silver Clay. You will have the opportunity to design, create, fire and finish 1 - 2 pieces of fine silver jewellery. Price includes 10gms clay, use of all tools and firing. Coffee/Tea, cake/biscuits.
(Findings such as chain, cufflinks and earring wires can be purchased at a small additional cost.)
Thurs 17th Sept 10am - 1pm
Thurs 24th Sept 5 – 8.30 pm
Thurs 1st Oct 10am – 1pm
Thurs 8th Oct 10am – 1pm
Fri 16th Oct 10am – 1pm
Thurs 22nd 0ct 5 - 8.30pm
Fri 30th Oct 10am -1pm
PLEASE NOTE YOU CAN BOOK YOUR OWN TASTER SESSION TO SUIT YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS - GIVE ME A CALL TO ARRANGE!!!
COLD ENAMELLING - £65 NEW!! NEW!! NEW!!!
Add colour to your Silver Clay. Design, create, fire and finish a piece of fine silver jewellery which you will embellish with cold enamel. Practice your enamelling on pewter bezels – these make great pendants or keyrings! Price includes 10gms clay, use of all tools and firing; pewter bezel and enamels for two pieces. Cofffee / Tea, Cake / Biscuits. Local cafes serve great lunches or bring a packed lunch.
Sat 10th Oct 10am – 4pm
Sat 24th Oct 10am – 4pm
PRIVATE STUDIO SESSIONS AND BIRTHDAY PARTIES ARE AVAILABLE TO BOOK. PLEASE CALL LISA OR CONTACT DUCHY SQUARE TO DISCUSS.
Monday, 31 August 2009
DEVON’S COUNTRYSIDE AND COAST ARE THE INSPIRATION FOR HEIDI
Prints and paintings inspired by Devon’s amazing countryside and beaches will be the focus of an exhibition of new work by Heidi Koenig at the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity (3-26 Sept, open daily 10am-5pm)
Heidi’s contemporary abstract prints and paintings will be on display in the downstairs gallery at Duchy Square in Princetown, which is also playing host to one of a series of taster exhibitions by members of Devon Open Studios in the upstairs gallery.
Devon Open Studios is the largest open studio event featuring the work of more than 230 artists and makers across 11 venues between September 5-20 , including the five taster exhibitions.
Along with Heidi’s exhibition, around 30 members of the Open Studios event will have their work on display at Duchy Square, which joins Exeter Phoenix Galleries, Kennaway House, Sidmouth, the Flavel in Dartmouth and Great Torrington’s Plough Arts Centre as the venues for the taster exhibitions.
Born in Germany in 1964, Heidi, who lives in Exeter, attained a first class honours degree in Fine Art Printmaking at Brighton University, before going on to study for a Postgraduate Diploma of Fine Art Printmaking at Slade School of Fine Art.
She has staged a number of solo exhibitions over the last decade, including the CCA Galleries in London, Oxford’s Inspires Gallery and at a number of venues in the Westcountry –the Viewpoint Gallery at Plymouth College of Art and Brownston Gallery in Modbury in the South Hams.
Influenced by the works or Rothko, Frankenthaler and Matisse, Heidi is recognised as one of the strongest artists to graduate from the prestigious Slade School and her enigmatic and energetic images are in demand worldwide.
“Inspiration for individual pieces is driven purely by observation and physical experiences,” said Heidi.
“When I set out to paint I don’t have a conscious viewpoint of how I want it to turn out -the image evolves as I paint, taking me back to the places that I have been and the sensory information that I have absorbed.”
Opened in March and supported by a number of organisations, including Duchy of Cornwall and Devon County Council, the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity offers low cost workshop space on two floors and is helping boost the local economy by connecting local businesses with other key industry sectors.
AUTUMN’S THE SEASON FOR GETTING CREATIVE
There’s a chance for young and old to get artistic at the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity.
The resident artists and creative practitioners based at the centre in Princetown have drawn up their Autumn programme of workshops, to give people of all ages the opportunity to unlock their creative flair.
The autumn programme follows on from the hugely successful summer series of events at Duchy Square, which included a special bunting day community workshop, when people helped give the centre a bold splash of colour.
Once again, the new programme offers a varied selection of artistic and creative disciplines and gives the people the chance to tap into the skills and knowledge of some of the centre’s creative practitioners.
There’s the chance to learn contemporary card-making with Doris Smith Rolli on Sept 18th, followed by a Big Draw Masterclass on October 10th.
Two mosaic making workshops, one using everyday objects people can find and bring in, are part of the ongoing schedule and there’s also silk painting, dyeing, precious metal clay jewellery making, weaving, printmaking, quilting and embroidery on offer. Get into the festive spirit too with a ‘Baubles for Christmas’ workshop.
Tracy Hill, South West Regional Manager for Integria Ltd – which operates and manages Duchy Square – said the workshop sessions had proved a popular way to help locals and visitors alike to feel part of the centre.
“There is a real buzz around Duchy Square at the moment and the workshops are really contributing to that buzz,” said Tracy.
The one-day workshops cost from as little as £10 to £35 and will mostly be held between 10am and 4pm.
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